Litter-frame for pack-saddles.



- No. 806,781. PATENTBD DBG. 12, 1905.

Hl Wl LITTER FRAME Por; PAGK sADDLEs.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A No. 806,781.

- I PATBNTED DBO. 12,` 1905. *11. W. DALY. l LITTER PRAM'BPOR PACK SADDLES.

P TI N I E 1 05. AP LIQA 0 I' L D MAYB 9 ISHEETS-SHEET 2' PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

H. W. DALY.

LITTER FRAME POB. PACK SADDLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

QIFP

PATBNTED DEO. 12, 1905. H. W. DALY. LITTER FRAME FOB. PACK SADDLES..

APPLIOATIO HLEDM a 1905.

N AY mums-SHEET 4.

UNTTED sTATns HENRY W. DALY, OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

LITTRFRAIVIE FOR PACK-SADDLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application led May 8,1905. Serial No. 259,396.

To all whom, t may oon/cern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. DALY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Leavenworth, Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Litter- Frames for Pack Saddles, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to a litter-frame for pack-saddles, and is devised for army use and intended to securely carry two wounded men on ordinary hand litters or stretchers suspended on opposite sides of the pack-animal.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple litter-frame that will be light, strong,

, and durable and readily adapted for carrying the litters in either folded or open conditions.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, that will be hereinafter fully shown, described, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved litter-frame, the same being laid out flat in order to show all the parts thereof. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the litter-frame as it appears in position upon a pack-animal and arranged to carry two litters or stretchers. Fig. 3 is a plan view of two litters and showing the connections therefrom to my improved litter-frame in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken approximately on the line 1 lof Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the hinged plates seen in Fig. 5, certain of the straps attached to said plates being removed. Fig. 7 is an enlarged frontA elevation of the lower end of one of the side plates of my improved litter-frame and showing one of the swivel-clamps carried thereby. Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

The frame of my improved apparatus comprises two hinged plates that lie transversely on the animals back, which plates are hinged of coupling-plates. A second pair of coupling-plates unitethe ends of the hinged plates.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 1 indicate the hinged plates of my improved apparatus, the same being constructed of suitable sheet metal and each plate being hinged in the middle, as indicated by 2. These plates are arranged a suitable distance apart, and their ends are connected by metallic coupling-plates 3, which plates are reinforced on their upper faces by the wooden stiffening-bars 4. The ends of the plates 3 are riveted to the ends of the plates 1, and the bars 4 are riveted to the plates 3, and said plates 3 and 4 are preferally inclosed or sheathed with leather, as indicated by 5. Formed integral with and projecting from the outer edges of the plates 3, adjacent the ends thereof, are the loops 6, which are for the purpose of receiving short bag-retaining straps 7.

Rigidly fixed to the top surfaces of the outer ends of the hinged plates 1 are theretaining straps or clips 8, in each of which is engaged a pair of tug-loops 8a. Hinged to the outer ends of each of the plates 1 are the upper ends of the side plates 9, which plates are constructed, preferably, of sheet-steel and having their lower ends joined by the lower pair of coupling-plates 10, and said coupling-plates are reinforced by the stiifening-bars 11, which, together with said plates 10, are sheathed or inclosed in leather 12. The ends of the hardwood stiffeners 11 project over the lower ends of the side plates 9, and the lower ends of said side plates are doubled over said extended' ends, as indicated by 13, and the doubled-over ends are secured to the main body portions of the plates 9 by the rivets 14.

Secured in any suitable manner to the outer faces of the lower ends ofthe side plates 9 just above Ythe ends of the stiifening-bars 11 are loops 15, which are provided with rings 16, that engage the lower ends of bag-straps 17. The lower ends of the four bag-straps 7 and the upper ends of the four bag-straps 17 are secured, respectively, to the top and bottom edges of suitable leather bags 18, which may be utilized to carry webbing belts, that are for the purpose of securing the wounded men upon the litters, if necessary, or said bags may be provided with suitable bandages, together with medical supplies, &c. A

The swivel-clamps that engage the inner IOO los

' provided with a litter-strap 22", that is for the purpose of being wrapped around a folded litter when the same is not in use, and the free ends of said litter-straps are engaged in the loops 15, thus retaining the folded litters in position on top of the lower pair of couplingplates. In this manner the folded litters are held and transported when not in use.

Side straps 23, of extra heavy leather, have their upper ends secured to the inner pair of tug-loops 8", and said side straps are so arranged as that the pair of straps that hang down on the right-hand side of the animal pass through the outer pair of tug-loops on the right-hand side of the frame and extend from thence over and are fastened to the inner pair of loops on the left-hand side of the frame. This arrangement is reversed with the pair of loops that hang down on the left-hand side'of the animal, and thus the upper or top ends of said side straps overlap one another, and thus the strain or pull upon the straps is equalized, and a very strong and substantial arrangement is formed for engaging the outer pair of the side bars of the litters. of the side straps 23 are provided with U- shaped stirrups 24, which are adapted to receive the outer side bars of the litters, and the inner upright arms of these stirrups are provided with set-screws 25.

Quarter-straps 26, capable of being lengthened or shortened, are provided on their upper ends with snap-hooks 27, that are engaged in the outer set of tug-loops 8, the lower ends of said quarter-straps being provided with rings 28, through which pass guy-straps 29, the ends of which are provided with rings 30. These guy-straps 29 are of such a width as that they will readily allow the rings 30 to be slipped over the handles formed on the ends of the side bars ofthe litters when said litters are unfolded or spread open.

In Figs. 2, 3, and el l have shown the ordinary hand litters or stretchers, the same comprising the side rails A, the ends of which are formed into handles, and which side rails are held open or apart by the braces B and the anas bodies of said litters being indicated Short Straps 3l are secured to the outer pair of tug-loops 8a on one side of the frame, which straps are adapted to engage in buckles 32, carried by short straps 33, that are se- The outer lower ends cured to the outer pair of tug-loops 8L on the opposite side of the frame. These straps are for the purpose of encircling a folded litter, which may be carried on the top of the frame, in addition to the litters carried by the straps 22.

In the use of my improved litter-frameran aparejo or pack-saddle is placed upon the animal in the usual manner, after which the litter-frame is positioned upon said aparejo, with the hinged plates 1 on top of the animals back and with the side plates of the frame extending down on the sides of said animal. The cinchais now passed around the animals body over all four of the couplingplates and secured in the usual manner. This very rigidly retains the entire frame in the proper position and the same is now ready for use. To place the stretchers in position upon said frame, the inner rails of said stretchers are engaged in the stirrups 19, after which the set-screws 21 are manipulated so as to clamp said side rails, after which the stirrups 241, carried by the outer ends of `the side straps 23, are engaged beneath the outer side rails of the litters, and the set-screws 25 carried by said stirrups are so manipulated as to clamp said outer side rails. The rings 30 of the guystraps 29 are now passed over the handles formed on the ends of the side rails of the litters, after which the snap-hooks 27 are engaged in the outer set of the tug-loops 8, and thus the two litters are very rigidly secured and held in position upon the frame. In ascending or descending a grade the litters may be leveled orheld in comparatively horizontal planes by loosening the set-screws of the proper swivel-clamps 19 and shortening the corresponding quarter-straps 26.

It will be observed that the litter is held or secured to the frame at eight different pointsviz., the four supports or clamps on the side rails of said litter and the four rings on the handles thereof.

By the use of a litter frame and carrier of myv improved construction the wounded men may be removed from a battle-field to a temporary hospital or aid-station much more rapidly and in a much more satisfactory manner than where said litters are carried by hand, and two or three lmen with a pack-animal equipped with my improved litter-frame can do much quicker and better work than a greater number of men operating without a pack-animal and the litter frame and carrier.

My improved litter frame and carrier is very simple, strong, and durable and may be folded into a comparatively small space while being transported or in storage.

lI claim- 1. In a litter-frame for pack-saddles, a pair of frames hinged together and adapted to be positioned on a pack-animal; swivel-clamps carried by said frames for engaging the inside IIO rails of a pair of open litters, straps secured to said frames, and clamps secured to said straps for engaging lthe outside rails of the open litters, substantially as specified.

2. In a litter-frame for pack-saddles, a pair of frames hinged together and adapted to be positioned on a pack-animal; swivel-clamps carried by said frames for engaging the inside rails of a pair of open litters, straps secured to said frames, and straps secured to the frames for engaging the handles of the open litters, substantially as specified. i

3. In a litter-frame for pack-saddles, a pair of frames adapted to be positioned on the sides of a pack-animal, plates hinged at the middle and hinged to the upper ends of the frames, and straps connected to said hinged plates for engaging and holding open litters against the lower ends of the frames; substantially as speoiiied.

4C. In a litter-frame for pack-saddles, a pair of frames adapted to be positioned on the sides of a pack-animal, a pair of plates hinged at the middle and hinged to the upper endsof the frames, swivel-clamps carried by the lower hinged plates, swivel-clamps carried by the lower ends of said straps for engaging the outer rails of the open litters, and straps secured to the hinged plates for engaging the handles of the open litters; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY W. DALY. Witnesses:

WM. D. REYBURN, Z. BROGAN. 

